Beast In Black Announce Markus Venehsalo As New Guitarist During Recording Of Fourth Studio Album

BEAST IN BLACK have officially announced the addition of Finnish guitarist Markus Venehsalo to the band's lineup as work continues on their fourth studio album.

According to the band, the appointment followed a search for a second guitarist capable of performing lead guitar solos for the upcoming release. During the recording process, the group sought a player whose style would complement the material being developed for the album.

Around the same period, Venehsalo contacted the band directly and shared videos featuring his own original guitar solos. The material led to further discussions, and he was subsequently selected to record lead guitar solos for the forthcoming album.

At the same time, BEAST IN BLACK conducted interviews with several candidates from Finland and abroad while searching for a permanent guitarist. Following that process, the band decided to offer the position to Venehsalo.

Commenting on the announcement, Venehsalo said:

"When I was 8 years old, my dad brought home a guitar he had bought from a work buddy. I plugged it into an amp, found the distortion channel, and said to my dad, 'I'm going to be a rock 'n' roll guitarist!' Being now part of the Beast In Black lineup feels like an almost impossible dream come true for me, and I'm excited about what the future holds for us. Thank you for trusting me on guitar duties. I promise to do my absolute best!"

Fans will not have to wait long to see the new lineup on stage. Venehsalo is scheduled to make his live debut with the band at a festival appearance in Germany on June 27, 2026.

The announcement also marks the conclusion of guitarist Daniel Freyberg's temporary period with the group. The band thanked Freyberg for performing with them during recent live shows and acknowledged his contribution during the transition.

Freyberg commented:

"I wanna thank Beast In Black and the fans for this amazing adventure together. We all knew this chapter would be temporary due to my long-term plans with Crownshift, but I'm really glad we got to make some great memories around the globe. Although our paths are now heading in different directions, the friendship remains strong."

According to the statement, Freyberg will now focus full-time on Crownshift, which is currently working on a new studio album.

Written by Gino Alache – Music Journalist

photo credit: Jarmo Katila / Toni Kilpinen

Watch Markus Venehsalo perform one of his original guitar solos below.